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Cruiser
Posts: 69
| Seems like I ask for a lot of help from this forum but until someone tells me I'm a pest I'm gong to keep asking. Ya'll are great. I normally ride with a half helmet or no helmet (I know, I know). I have to wear padded sunglasses or goggles as I'm legally blind without my contacts and have worn them so long (45 years) I can't wear normal eyeglasses. Today I got caught in a gully washer and even w/the windshield all the way up the rain hits my face as well as the windshield. I flat can't see with rain hitting the windshield and my sunglasses. Looking through two layers of plastic (windshield and glasses) I can't see the yellow line more than 40 or 50 feet, let alone cars without their lights on coming at me. All I can do is slow to about 30 and hope no one rear ends me until I find a place to pull over. The options I can think of is lower the windshield and get stung by the rain or (best option) wear my full face helmet and leave the windshield down. ~Shy |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 600
Linwood, MI | You could try something like Rain-x on your windshield. I used it on my car once and even in a deluge I didn't have to use my wipers. Good stuff.
Another thought is something like a Scorpion helmet. I think it's more-or-less a half-shell with retractable half-face/eye shield. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | I don't know of anything that's going to help in a really hard down pour other than to just pull safely to the side out of traffic. i use a product called Rejex and that helps. It is designed to keep nasty stuff like bugs sticking to the windshield and other plastic or painted surfaces but it does help to sheet the water. I've have used it for years with no side effects to the winhshield. DO NOT use products like rain-x and others as these will clould the plastic. Good luck
Blackjack |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | You've already stated the best option, which is a full face helmet with the windshield lowered just enough you can look over it. Do not use RAINX on your windshield. It will ruin it. I've used Honda Polish and Cleaner for many years and it does help the water to shed off your windshield, as well as being an excellent cleaner and polish for the whole bike.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 97
Brighton, Colorado | Take some "fish tank tubing" (the kind used to put oxygen into the tank, and cut it lengthwise. Fit it over the top and sides of your windshield. Puts kind of a lip all around the edges of the windshield. Works pretty well in breaking up the torrents. I carry a few feet of it with me at all times. When it starts raining really bad, I just slip it over the edge. Helps to have a full face helmet too. Get one of those gloves that has the rubber "squeegie" thing on the finger. Might help with your goggles a little bit.
Edited by Squeak 2009-05-25 6:33 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada | carry a snap on shield and put it on the 1/2 helmet when you are caught in the rain. Lower the windshield so you are looking over it. The snap on visor will be so close to your eyes you will be looking through the rain drops without an issue |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | P R A Y |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Montreal, QC Canada | I agree with candubrain. We got caught in a huge downpour in Houston last month and the only thing that saved us was to snap on shield. It flips out of the way when you aren't using it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Try the Scorpion EXO 100 helmet. Has a built in shield, best helmet I've had. Have been in light to heavy rain with this helmet here in Houston and works great with the windshield all the way down and you still keep your glasses on. You don't have to stop to snap on the shield. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | i have heard in the past people say not to use rainX because it does something to their windshields.. but every single bike i have ever owned with a windshield i have used rainX on and it didnt hurt the shield at all. BUT all the shields i have had were higher end windshield. I dont know if that means anything? as it stands now, i have been using rainX on my vision for 11 months with no ill effects on the shield. i just wanted to throw that out there.. |
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Tourer
Posts: 562
SC, Bluffton | Arkainzeye - 2009-05-26 7:26 AM
i have heard in the past people say not to use rainX because it does something to their windshields.. but every single bike i have ever owned with a windshield i have used rainX on and it didnt hurt the shield at all. BUT all the shields i have had were higher end windshield. I dont know if that means anything? as it stands now, i have been using rainX on my vision for 11 months with no ill effects on the shield. i just wanted to throw that out there..
Take the stock Honda Goldwing windshields. There is a thin film over the plastic. The Rain-X penetrates this, over time, and small bubbles will start appearing. Rain-X is for glass. This is what I have seen written on the Goldwing boards, so I follow their advise. I have no personal experience using Rain-X.
Herb |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | Just got back from a South Dakota trip and all the way through Colorado and New Mexico we had rain. The thing that worked best for me was a good wax on the windshield and not putting it up all the way. Seemed that when i had it up all the way water had a way of coming in from underneath. I real heavy downpours if you lean in it helps but the best when vision is poor is to pull off until the real heavy stuff stops.
mike |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 19
| I think the real problem is that the windshield is so far forward your face gets wet also. Design of the bike. I did Deals Gap this weekend and rode in hard rain most of the way home and had the same issues. I wear an open face helmet also. My wife was on a Goldwing trike and never had this issue. I agree the only cure is a face shield or a full face helmet.
Also had the knob on the turn signal switch fly off coming up 75 and my fuel gauge quit working. Just that kind of weekend.
Bill |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I think time and experience is the answer to this quest. I've ridden in heavy rain more than once and I can not find a suitable combination for any great duration. My EXO-100 in the down position will fog up adding to that dimension. My goggles fog up and I have to keep wiping them. My windshield alone keeps direct hits off even in the up position but I still get a face full, it is what it is, pouring rain at 70 mph. When riding the RedWing19 Iron Butt a few weekends ago we had over a 100 miles of almost continual downpour running at 70mph+. I was following the Navy Seal on his Softtail and there were times I backed off some but he would back off as well so I stayed up on him and he keep pressing on. He had googles and a small fixed windshield and not lowers. When we got back, he told me he had the same problem as me, googles fogging, and we just kept wiping them out every few minutes to see as well as we could. So, if you're riding in pouring rain, I don't know of any simple positive solution for me, it is either tough it out or stop. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | You never want to use Rain-X on plastic.
Basically Rain-X is a silicone oil that uses an acidic solution, and they top it off with a bit of alcohol. The acid etches into glass so the silicone beads the water, the alcohol is just an evaporative carrier for the silicone and acid.
The problem with using it on plastic is that it has a micro-coating on the plastic that helps protect it from u.v. rays and the enviroment. The acid in the Rain-X eats into this coating and eventually the plastic will crack/haze/yellow over time. Could be a long time, could be a short time, either way its just a simple matter of time.
A lot of people swear by Plexus. And some folks use Pledge. As a matter of fact ask a person who owns an airplane what they use on thier plastic windshields and you will get a lot of "Pledge" answers.
Edited by Lotzafun 2009-05-26 10:02 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I can deal with Rain in the daylight but after dark I really can't see when it rains |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | I have not tried any products to repel rain.
Edited by Trekwolf164 2009-05-26 11:40 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Lotzafun - 2009-05-26 9:47 AM
You never want to use Rain-X on plastic.
Basically Rain-X is a silicone oil that uses an acidic solution, and they top it off with a bit of alcohol. The acid etches into glass so the silicone beads the water, the alcohol is just an evaporative carrier for the silicone and acid.
The problem with using it on plastic is that it has a micro-coating on the plastic that helps protect it from u.v. rays and the enviroment. The acid in the Rain-X eats into this coating and eventually the plastic will crack/haze/yellow over time. Could be a long time, could be a short time, either way its just a simple matter of time.
A lot of people swear by Plexus. And some folks use Pledge. As a matter of fact ask a person who owns an airplane what they use on thier plastic windshields and you will get a lot of "Pledge" answers.
+1. Plexus was originally formulated for use on the Lexan windshields of aircraft. It works well on bike windshields and helmet faceshields. As mentioned, I just carry Honda Polish and Cleaner. It works much like Plexus on the windshield and works well on the rest of the bike too. Tried and tested by Goldwing owners for decades.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 247
| get a flip up shield for the helmet and flip it up to a position in the rain where the rain is not hitting your eyes and put the windshield down far enough to look over it. i've ridden this way with no glasses in some heavy rain and still been able to see where i was going. night time slow down, put onthe flashers and pull over. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 247
| get a flip up shield for the helmet and flip it up to a position in the rain where the rain is not hitting your eyes and put the windshield down far enough to look over it. i've ridden this way with no glasses in some heavy rain and still been able to see where i was going. night time slow down, put onthe flashers and pull over. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | I rode in the rain a lot last weekend. I used Frog Togs and an Scorpion EXO-100 Helmet with the built in shield. There in no perfect answer but this worked very well for me.
Ride Safe |
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Tourer
Posts: 301
Buffalo Grove,Ill | Well ill tell ya, i got caught in the rain today and it was a bitch, Im going to install rain X and see what happens. One thing i will do is apply it differently than i do on my car. With the car i pour it on then wipe it all around then buff off. With the bike i will put it on the rag and go over the windshield then buff. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | Most all of your answers center around trying to deal WITH the rain however common sense and defensive driving tells us that the BEST answer is to get out of rain that is impeding your driving. Now, before all of you poopoo this answer lets look at a bigger picture.. The only person who will ride beyond their bike or bikes equipment ability is someone who is in a hurry and didnt plan well so that by pulling off the road for 10-15 minutes wont wreck their plans. Also, lets all remember that the very rain that is hampering YOUR visibility is also hampering the visibility of the automobiles you are driving with, therefore the risk of them not paying attention to you, or seeing you heightens your probability of being hit. Take the time to be late, 15 minutes wont kill you, and none of us want to see a posting on here, that it did. |
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Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | I use http://www.saeng.com/product.php?id=581&category=80 Micro-Swirl™| Edging on most all my bikes. It's one of the first things I order. Because I'm 6'4" I seem to get the brunt of any rain, right off the top of the windshield. This product directs it away. While riding in deluges in Georgia, or getting caught in the traditional "Pennsylvania Downpour," it makes the best of a bad situation. It's a piece of cake to install. However, it really shines in light rain, as that just collects and rolls down the sides, and the swirl action keeps it off of the rider for the most part... as long as you are moving of course. I'm not sure if there would be any clearance issues on an adjustable windshield, so check that first of course. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | VaParadox - 2009-05-27 12:13 AM Most all of your answers center around trying to deal WITH the rain however common sense and defensive driving tells us that the BEST answer is to get out of rain that is impeding your driving. Now, before all of you poopoo this answer lets look at a bigger picture.. The only person who will ride beyond their bike or bikes equipment ability is someone who is in a hurry and didnt plan well so that by pulling off the road for 10-15 minutes wont wreck their plans. Also, lets all remember that the very rain that is hampering YOUR visibility is also hampering the visibility of the automobiles you are driving with, therefore the risk of them not paying attention to you, or seeing you heightens your probability of being hit. Take the time to be late, 15 minutes wont kill you, and none of us want to see a posting on here, that it did. Okay Macon, why did you have to bring common sense into this when it was wrecked with confusion, right where it wanted to be. I thought we were headed for another oil thread type marathon. For me, I'm in no hurry, but experience has told me that waiting, could be a longer wait then 15 minutes because storms stall. If I ride, I ride through it with caution, but want to maintain a steady pace to keep from getting plowed under by the 2%ers of cagers that think they are invinsible. For some us, rain riding is a part of riding and does not stop us, so we pursue the perfect combination, in which to date, product or no product, I cannot beat the elements blowing along at 70mph. If you are trying to find that perfect solution, drive the cage. At best here, all we can say is what we do as our best fit, and that even changes in the situation. If riding the rain is that much of a problem, please err to caution and don't do it, and heed VaP advice.
Edited by varyder 2009-05-27 5:15 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 26
minnesota | I was caught with 65 mph cross-winds/rain last summer and had to lower to windshield to see the road (a little) until I could pull off the highway. I carry Bike Brite Moto-Mask now on my bike. I read a good review from Riders Club of America. It is made for MC windshields/visors. I have only used it once since purchasing it, but the rain did seem to bead up better.
Edited by internet_red 2009-05-27 5:47 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | radioteacher - 2009-05-26 8:47 PM
I rode in the rain a lot last weekend. I used Frog Togs and an Scorpion EXO-100 Helmet with the built in shield. There in no perfect answer but this worked very well for me.
Ride Safe
Did your Frogg Toggs keep you dry? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Blackjack,
I was lucky on Friday. Just before it started to come down in buckets and the traffic slowed to a halt on 1604 I pulled under an overpass. I put on my Frog Togs and gauntlet gloves under the bridge. Traffic was only moving about 5 to 10 miles and hour so I was not worried about someone plowing into me.
After I got dressed for success I started down the road in a hard rain. Uh oh. Houston, we have a problem. I did not put the left leg all of the way down over the boot and felt water dripping into the boot. Arrgggg!
Traffic was still very slow so I pulled over in the rain and adjusted to left pants leg of the Frog Tog.
All was fine now and no more water was going in the boot.
When I made it to my destination I took off the rain gear. My shirt and pants were dry. My hands were damp because the gloves are not water proof. My boots were damp but not soaked (I need to seal then again).
All that got really wet was my lower face and beard.
Other then that I was warm and dry.
I bought mine a bit large so they can fit over my winter gear. I normally wear 1/2 leather chaps from the knee down to keep them out of the exhaust.
All in all, the Frog Togs are light and work very well. |
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Tourer
Posts: 367
Cottage Grove, Mn | Thanks Paul
I think i'll try a set.
Blackjack |
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Cruiser
Posts: 257
Under the Rule of Jedi - Masshole | Permatex has some great products that out perform RainX. Safe on Lexan and Plastics.
Here is one. http://www.permatex.com/documents/PX-0320.PerfectPlastic.SS.pdf |
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Rain vision help please